The Top-Tier Alpha Refuses to Be Pretty Cannon Fodder - Chapter 8

As soon as Qi Xi stepped inside, he was met with the sight of shattered porcelain scattered across the living room floor. The chaotic mess looked as though someone had staged an attack.

The little Omega is home alone… surely nothing happened to him?

Qi Xi’s heart tightened inexplicably. He looked toward the second floor and called out with genuine concern, “Lu Yunxing? Xingxing, are you home?”

As Qi Xi looked up, Lu Yunli, who was standing on the second floor, quickly retreated into the deep shadows. His eyes, shrouded in darkness, flickered with a dangerous, dark intensity.

The person he usually didn’t see for months or even a year had actually returned today, of all days.

【Lu Yunli: Think of something. Fast.】 【520: Sob… I can’t think of anything!】

If Qi Xi didn’t leave, he could forget about meeting Huo Yan. If this ruined his chance to level up, he and the “Qi dog” were going to have a serious problem.

The system is useless. Fine, I’ll do it myself.

Lu Yunli pressed himself against a pillar and stole a glance downstairs. Seeing Qi Xi begin to climb the stairs, he turned and dashed back into the bedroom.

“How long until 6:00 PM?”

【520: Less than two hours.】

It was a one-hour drive to the meeting point. Time was running out. Lu Yunli ran a frustrated hand through his hair and began unbuttoning his high-end suit. He was halfway through stripping when he heard footsteps outside the door.

Qi Xi had arrived.

“Lu Yunxing? Xingxing, are you in there?”

Lu Yunli accelerated his movements, grabbing a T-shirt he had tossed onto the bed and pulling it over his head. The next second, the doorknob turned, and Qi Xi pushed the door open.

Inside, the little Omega sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a large duvet. He looked bleary-eyed and sleepy, his clothes loosely fitted and his hair messy, with a single stubborn cowlick sticking up. As he saw Qi Xi enter, his eyelids fluttered open.

Lu Yunli rubbed his eyes. “Brother Qi… why are you here?”

His voice carried the hoarse softness of someone who had just woken up. The corners of his eyes were rubbed red, making his pale, beautiful face look alluringly radiant.

Lu Yunxing possessed the same stunning features as the top-tier Alpha, Lu Yunli. Qi Xi had always known his spouse was handsome, but over the last few days, he had realized that Lu Yunxing was nothing like the cold, prestigious CEO. This Omega was like a little rabbit—delicate, prone to tears, and fragile.

Someone this delicate should live under my wings and be spoiled, Qi Xi thought. If there were a castle, he should be the princess inside.

Qi Xi’s gaze darkened. “I was passing by and bought you something to eat. Get up and eat.”

Passing by? From thousands of miles away?

Lu Yunli wrapped the duvet tighter and yawned. “Brother Qi, I didn’t sleep well last night. Just leave it there. I want to sleep a bit more before I eat.”

The “soft” way he spoke made Qi Xi’s heart stir. “Xingxing, are you still not fully awake?”

Lu Yunli nodded. Just leave already.

Instead of leaving, the Alpha began walking toward him. As he approached, Lu Yunli saw—out of the corner of his eye—the sleeve of the custom suit he had shoved under the bed was still sticking out.

If Qi Xi walked any closer, he’d see it for sure.

To prevent a disaster, Lu Yunli threw off the duvet and stood up, his bare feet touching the floor. “I’m awake now.”

Qi Xi’s footsteps halted abruptly.

Standing before him was an Omega wearing only a long T-shirt that barely reached his knees, revealing slender, snowy-white legs. His bare feet were planted on the marble floor, his ankles so delicate they looked as though they would snap under the slightest pressure.

Is this how he seduced Huo Yan?

Qi Xi clenched his fists inside his pockets. I should build a cage inside that castle and lock him away. That way, no one else could ever desire him.

Qi Xi’s gaze was heavy and tangible. Lu Yunli ignored the simmering darkness in the Alpha’s eyes. Taking advantage of Qi Xi’s momentary daze, he subtly kicked the suit further under the bed. Then, as if no one was watching, he walked over to a chair, picked up a pair of pants, and pulled them on.

Lu Yunli stepped into his slippers and walked past Qi Xi with a yawn. “Let’s go. Downstairs.”

He had only taken one step when his arm was caught. The air was filled with the faint, pleasant scent of Oolong White Peach pheromones.

Qi Xi leaned down, his eyes scanning Lu Yunli’s neck—where a suppressor patch should have been. “Lu Yunxing, Huo Yan is a man of extreme standards. Did you use this look to seduce him?”

He leaned into Lu Yunli’s ear, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Did he touch you?”

Lu Yunli narrowed his eyes. He raised his hand to slap Qi Xi’s face, but before he could connect, a familiar electric current surged through his body. His limbs went weak, and Qi Xi caught his hand, pulling him close.

Shit!

Lu Yunli ground his teeth and followed the system’s prompt, mimicking the original owner’s persona. He looked up with teary eyes. “Brother Qi, I didn’t… I’ve been living in the villa alone. I didn’t know you were coming today.”

As expected, the electric shock stopped the moment he spoke.

He caught his breath and heard Qi Xi’s warning: “Xingxing, you’re an Omega. Behave yourself from now on. Don’t walk around without pants.”

【Lu Yunli: I xxxxxxx (Bleep—)】 【520: Sob… Host, don’t be angry! Once you level up, you won’t have to worry about the OOC penalty anymore.】 【Lu Yunli: I am going to level up and GET A DIVORCE! If I don’t pay him back for this, my name isn’t Lu!】

Qi Xi looked down at the “fragile” Omega in his arms. Did the boy have any idea how dangerous it would be if the person who pushed that door open hadn’t been him, but another Alpha? He wondered how the little Omega had managed to take care of himself all this time.

For the first time, the thought of staying home crossed Qi Xi’s mind. The thought startled even him. Am I crazy? If it weren’t for Lu Yunli’s schemes, why would I have married him? This must be another one of Lu Yunxing’s tricks to keep me here!

Qi Xi didn’t voice his thoughts. He let go of Lu Yunli’s arm and stuffed his hands back into his pockets. “Let’s go. Downstairs.”

The Chessboard

As they walked down the stairs, Lu Yunli watched Qi Xi’s back and pulled out his phone to text Lin Zhi.

Lu Yunxing: Lin Zhi! The method you taught me actually works! Brother Qi came home today and brought me so much food. Do you think he’s changed his mind? Is he not going to divorce me anymore?! Lu Yunxing: [Cat-rolling-on-the-floor.jpg]

He hadn’t even put the phone down when a reply came back instantly.

Lin Zhi: President Qi is with you?

Lu Yunli snapped a photo of Qi Xi’s back and sent it over.

Lu Yunxing: Isn’t he handsome! [Starry-eyes.jpg]

Lin Zhi didn’t reply after that. A deep smirk touched Lu Yunli’s lips. Given Lin Zhi’s relationship with Xie Xingchi, the phone call to the secretary would be happening in seconds. He didn’t believe for a moment that Xie Xingchi could sit still after hearing this.

Once the secretary makes a move, this dog will be out of my sight!

Lu Yunli’s pace faltered as he looked up to find Qi Xi’s face inches from his.

“Were you just taking a picture of me?”

The intuition of an S-grade Alpha really is top-tier, Lu Yunli thought. “I won’t let you delete it!” He quickly locked his screen and lied with a straight face. “It’s so rare for you to come home… I just wanted a photo to remember it by!”

Qi Xi looked like he wanted to say something but ultimately turned and walked away. Lu Yunli exhaled in relief and followed him to the dining table.

On the table was a small, pink cake. Qi Xi pushed it toward him. “Xingchi told me you liked these, so I bought one on the way. Try it. Do you like it?”

Lu Yunli stared at the cake, his brow furrowed. He and the original owner both hated sweets. The person who loved sweet things was Xie Xingchi.

By bringing this cake, Xie Xingchi was clearly trying to mock him and make him feel like an outsider in his own marriage.

【Lu Yunli: 520, he’s being passive-aggressive.】 【520: ……】

Suppressing his annoyance, Lu Yunli sat down. “What happened to the vase in the living room?” Qi Xi asked.

“Accidentally broke it. Haven’t had time to clean it up yet,” Lu Yunli answered dismissively.

“Is your thesis finished?” “Yes.”

After several more questions, Lu Yunli’s patience was wearing thin. Time was urgent. He leaned back and asked bluntly, “Is the company not busy today, Brother Qi?”

“Not busy. I came to see you,” Qi Xi said, pouring himself a glass of water.

“When are you leaving?” “You want me to leave?” “No…” Liar.

Just as the atmosphere reached a freezing point, Qi Xi’s phone rang.

“Brother Qi, your phone,” Lu Yunli prompted.

Qi Xi looked at the caller ID and frowned slightly. “Xingxing, wait for me. I need to take this.”

Lu Yunli nodded obediently. As Qi Xi walked away to answer, “Hello, Xingchi? What’s wrong?” Lu Yunli let out a massive sigh of relief.

Xie Xingchi really couldn’t sit still.

Lu Yunli looked at the cake in silence. After a few minutes, Qi Xi returned. “Xingxing, something came up at the company. I have to go.”

Lu Yunli put on a face of reluctant parting while his heart danced with joy. He even personally saw the man to the door. The moment the door closed, his expression went cold.

“Finally gone.”

He walked back to the table, picked up a fork, and tasted a bit of the cream. The cloying sweetness made him scowl. “Sweet. I really do hate it.”

Without a trace of lingering sentiment, he tossed the entire cake into the trash. It wasn’t just a cake he was throwing away, it was the last shred of pity he had for Qi Xi.

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